Sand Lake
Walkable and connected
Median $287K·Walkability 6.6/10·Schools 6.0/10
Early morning light cuts across Gordon Park, where the walking trails wind through quiet enough woods that you can actually think—that's the draw of this stretch northeast of Grand Rapids. The village itself reads small and residential, with tree-lined streets, ranch homes on substantial lots, and the kind of corner-lot charm that speaks to its roots as a railroad town. You're about 25 miles from the city proper, which means slower pace without isolation; nearby amenities include the Nelson Township Branch library and a few local spots, and the recreational trails at Gordon Park remain the real anchor. Most homes here sit on land with room to breathe—double lots aren't unusual, and alley access for parking or storage is built into the older street grid. It's the kind of place where you notice when something changes, which is exactly the point.
Why people love it here
Very walkable
- Unnamed playground: 4 min walk
- 9 places within a 10 min walk
Park-rich area
- 11 parks within 1 mile
- Salisbury Park: 6 min walk
- Breford Lake: 7 min bike
$287K median
- 3 sales in last 12mo
Explore Sand Lake
Same name, different focus — Sand Lake is also covered as:
- Sand Lake Lake Area — lake area details
Conventional Mortgage Calculator
Median home price in Sand Lake
Estimated Monthly Payment
$1,948/mo
Property tax and insurance are estimates you can edit — not a quote. Tap either figure to enter your own.
The interest rate shown is not an annual percentage rate (APR). Rate displayed is the current average 30-year fixed rate from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey and is subject to change without notice. Your actual rate, payment, and costs may vary. Contact a loan officer for a personalized quote.
Guild Mortgage NMLS #3274. Equal Housing Opportunity. NMLS Consumer Access. Not a commitment to lend. All loans subject to underwriter approval; terms and conditions may apply. Subject to change without notice. Always consult an accountant or tax advisor for full eligibility requirements on tax deduction.
3 homes sold in Sand Lake this year. Thinking of selling?
See what your home is worthWalkability
Good
Overall walkability score out of 10
Based on actual walk/bike/drive times to nearby amenities via Mapbox
Fraternal Order of Eagles
Tea'd up
Tri County Eagle 4467
Salisbury Park
Unnamed playground
Breford Lake
White Pine Trail
Kent District Library Nelson Township Branch
Kent Theater
Based on 1 rated school nearby
School District: Tri County Area Schools
Crime in Sand Lake is reported at the city level, not the neighborhood level. The FBI doesn't publish reliable crime rates for individual neighborhoods, and within any community crime varies street to street. For an accurate, comparable picture, see the jurisdiction-wide figures for Kent County.
Kent County crime & safety stats →To buy a median-priced Sand Lake home (around $287,000) at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $52k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $1,935 (principal, interest, property tax est., and insurance).
| Down payment | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $1,935/mo | $51,591 |
| 10% (+PMI) | $2,227/mo | $59,379 |
| 5% (+PMI) | $2,325/mo | $61,998 |
Estimates use a 6.66% 30-year fixed rate (current Freddie Mac average), an aggressive ~45% housing-to-income ratio (roughly what FHA underwriting can allow for a buyer with no other monthly debts — your number depends on your debts and credit), this area's median sale price, plus estimated insurance and PMI below 20% down. Not a commitment to lend, and not an APR — your actual rate and payment will vary.
Local Government · area-wide
Nelson Township
Source: nelsontownship.org · unconfirmed
Association and local-government details are compiled from public records, municipal sites, and state registries, and can change. Confirm directly with the association or municipality before relying on them.
Solar potential
~$909/yr in electricity from a typical rooftop solar system
Produces ~6,363 kWh/yr · offsets ~61% of a typical home's use
Nelson Township / Sand Lake water system (serviced); private well rural
Township assumed Village of Sand Lake water/sewer system; rural on private well.
Nelson Township / Sand Lake sewer system (serviced); septic rural
Township operates former Sand Lake sewer system; rural on septic.
Resident-arranged private hauler
Consumers Energy Co|Great Lakes Energy Coop · ~14.3¢/kWh
Service splits by location — other areas may be served by Great Lakes Energy. Confirm by address.
Confirm by addressNelson Township Fire Department (former Sand Lake FD)
Nelson Twp took over Sand Lake Fire Dept; 2 E Maple St, Sand Lake.
Services for Nelson · Source: nelsontownship.org
Utility, solar, and service details for Sand Lake are compiled from public records, municipal sites, and NREL / U.S. data.gov, and can change. Electric/gas can vary by address — confirm with the provider before relying on them.
🍕 Restaurants(9)
Fraternal Order of Eagles
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Cuts Deli
Restaurant
+4 more within 5 miles
☕ Coffee(6)
+3 more within 5 miles
🍺 Bars(4)
+1 more within 5 miles
🏫 Schools(10)
Phillips School
Big Whitefish School
Nelson Center School
Crandall School
+5 more within 5 miles
🌳 Parks(3)
🚴 Trails(5)
White Pine Trail
Bike Path
White Pine Trail
Bike Path
White Pine Trail
Bike Path
+2 more within 5 miles
Atlas — Grand Rapids Real Estate
Local real estate specialists
Questions about Sand Lake? Our team can help with availability, schools, and what it's really like to live here.
Frequently asked about Sand Lake
- What do homes cost in Sand Lake?
- The median home value in Sand Lake is about $287,000. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
- How active is the Sand Lake housing market?
- no homes are listed in Sand Lake right now, and 3 homes sold here in the last 12 months. Listings refresh throughout the day from the MichRIC MLS.
- What schools serve Sand Lake?
- Sand Lake is served by Tri County Area Schools. Its highest-rated assigned school is Sand Lake Elementary School (6/10).
- Is Sand Lake walkable?
- Sand Lake scores 6.6/10 for walkability — a measure of walking, biking, and driving access to groceries, dining, parks, schools, and transit.
Top contributors in Sand Lake
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